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Community Corner

No Citations in Fatal Detassling Incident

OSHA won't issue any citations in connection with the incident that killed two and injured six this summer in Tampico.

Federal officials announced Wednesday that they won't issue any citations in connection with a farming accident that electrocuted two Sterling girls and injured two Yorkville girls, the Quad City Times reported.

Neighbors and best friends Hannah Kendall and Jade Garza, both 14, were detasseling corn in Tampico, Ill., on July 25 when they connected with high voltage from an irrigation system, the Wall Street Journal reported in July. Six others, including Delanie Knapp, 14, and Bailey Knapp, 15, both of Yorkville, were injured, according to the Sterling-based Sauk Valley News.

Garza was Delanie and Bailey Knapp’s step-sister.

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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated R&J Enterprises of Illinois Inc. and Monsanto Corp. and found the incident was an “unfortunate accident,” according to the Associated Press. Lightening may have struck the field's irrigation system, the news service reported.

Kendall's and Garza's families are suing the two companies for negligence, according to the Quad City Times. The companies have denied the claims in Winnebago County Circuit Court in Rockford, according to the Associated Press article.

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Tampico is about 80 miles west of Yorkville.

 

To read OSHA's findings, see the documents attached to this Quad City Times article.

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